Year 5 - French
Mardi gras: negation, singular verbs
Celebrations in France and Haiti: plural -ER verbs, est-ce que, negation
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils use plural -er verbs, negation and est-ce que questions to ask and answer about important festivals in France and Haiti, including Christmas, New Year, Haitian Independence, 'La Chandeleur' and Mardi Gras. Knowledge of key 'e' sounds is strengthened.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the Mardi Gras festival using affirmative and negative sentences.
Key Notes
- The SSC (sound-symbol correspondence) [oi] is pronounced as in 'trois'.
- Mardi Gras is a popular French celebration (Shrove Tuesday). People make 'les crêpes' and take part in carnival parades.
- In Haiti, the Mardi Gras carnival is often known as : Mardi Gras or 'Kanaval' (in Haitian Creole).
- A negative sentence states something that is not true or is not happening.
- In English, we add 'don't' before the verb. In French we use 'ne' and 'pas' around the verb: je ne chante pas.
Vocabulary To Learn
- [oi]: pronounced as in 'trois'
- negative: a statement which denies or expresses negative meaning, e.g. 'je ne chante pas'; in French this includes two elements, e.g. 'ne … pas', around the main verb
- ne ... pas: used around a verb to make it negative: je ne chante pas
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- We can add just one word to make a sentence negative in French, like the English word 'not'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
The SSC (sound-symbol correspondence) [oi] is pronounced as in 'trois'. Mardi Gras is a popular French celebration (Shrove Tuesday). People make 'les crêpes' and take part in carnival parades.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. '[oi]'
pronounced as in 'trois'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: We can add just one word to make a sentence negative in French, like the English word 'not'. Correction: In French, we have to add two words to make a sentence negative, these are sandwiched around the verb: 'ne' and 'pas' (je ne chante pas).
More Lessons In This Unit
- 1st January in Haiti: -er verbs 'ils' and 'elles' Study Guide
- Christmas in Haiti and France: -er verbs 'nous' and 'vous' Study Guide
- La Chandeleur: negation, -er singular verbs Study Guide
- New Year's traditions: 'vous' meaning formal you Study Guide
- Presentation about Haiti: 'est-ce que' questions Study Guide
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